WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-For the third straight time, American International hockey took the Air Force Falcons to overtime. For the third straight time, they walked away with points, as junior center Alexander MacMillan (Calgary, Alb.) capped a wild comeback with an overtime winner at :59 of the extra frame as AIC downed their conference foe, 4-3, at the Olympia Ice Center.

The first forty minutes were lethargic offensively as neither team mounted many chances; Air Force did net a goal when defenseman Max Hartner wired a shot through a screen at 14:54 of the first, and added a second in the middle frame when forward A.J. Reid put back a rebound at 17:56. Shots favored the Falcons 16-6 after two, and in three combined power plays the teams managed just one shot on goal.

In the third, however, AIC showed signs of life, getting back within one at 10:38 when the top line of junior right wing Jason Popek (Hamilton, Ont.) and senior center Blake Peake (Lethbridge, Alb.) connected with sophomore left wing Chris Porter (Stoufville, Ont.) for his fifth of the year.

The Yellow Jackets had a spirited power play but were unable to convert on it, and then with 2:51 remaining in regulation, forward Chad Demers sniped a shot home from the right faceoff circle to put the Falcons up 3-1, seemingly ending the chances for a comeback.

AIC had other ideas, and at 18:33 freshman right wing David Norris (Calgary, Alb.) put home a pass from MacMillan for his third of the year, firing just over the leg of goalkeeper Paul Moberg.

Then, on a power play with the goalkeeper pulled, the Yellow Jackets pounded the puck toward the net, and in the mad scramble, a shot by MacMillan bounced to junior defenseman Jake Williams (Duluth, Minn.), who put it back for his third of the year at 19:44, forcing the OT.

Off of a defensive zone draw, freshman defenseman Dominic Racobaldo (Pennsauken, N.J.) made a play to Norris, who sent MacMillan in on the right wing; MacMillan closed and fired the puck short side for his ninth of the year, winning the game and sending the AIC team off the bench to pile on him in celebration.

Freshman Hunter Leisner earned the win, stopping 20 of the 23 Air Force shots to improve to 2-6-0 on the year, while Moberg made 15 saves on 19 shots, falling to 0-1-0 on the campaign.

The two teams will finish out the regular season series tomorrow at the Olympia, with a scheduled puck drop of 7:05 p.m.